Rachel lived with her parents and sister Anna at the family farm at Milbourne, and was the niece of Stroud MP Neil Carmichael.

She went to Coates Endowed Middle School before going to high school, where she performed well in her GCSEs in 2012.

Rachel was awaiting her A-level results and was hoping to study anthropology at Aberdeen University from next month.

She was said to have worked at a local pub or cafe.

Family and friends have told of Rachel’s love of animals, with her having kept a variety including a miniature pony and tortoise, and having visited Edinburgh Zoo with friends in the last two weeks.

She also enjoyed playing tennis, running and going to the gym.

Rachel had only recently passed her driving test and is said to have just got the Mini. She was said to have been “excited” about getting the car and to have “loved” driving.

Rachel is said to have been travelling with friends Rachel Dodd, 18, and daughter of Ponteland councillor Richard, and 19 year olds Ian Scott and Steve Hall, on the A696 North of Ponteland when the crash happened at 4.10am.

Police, fire service and paramedics attended but Rachel was pronounced dead at the scene.